Machining center

ABSTRACT

A machining center including a machine main body, an upper section of which supports a head moving device and a head raising and lowering device, configured such that a tool magazine is stored inside the machine main body, and with a magazine moving device configured to move the tool magazine such that, during tool exchange, the tool magazine is advanced to protrude from a side of the machine main body, so that, from the multiple tool holders, the tool holder used for exchange is positioned inside the movement range of the main shaft by the head moving device, and wherein the entire tool magazine is able to be moved beyond the movement range of the tool magazine by the magazine moving device to a position outside of the machine main body and detached from the machine main body.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to a machining center capable ofautomatically exchanging a tool attached to a main shaft.

BACKGROUND ART

Disclosed in patent literature 1 below is a vertical machining centerprovided with: (A) a main shaft head including a main shaft on which atool is attached and a main shaft rotating device that rotates the mainshaft; (B) a head raising and lowering device that moves the main shafthead in a vertical direction; (C) a head moving device that moves themain shaft head in a horizontal plane by moving it in two perpendiculardirections; (D) a work table that holds a work; and (E) a tool magazinefor storing multiple tools equipped with multiple tool holders that eachhold a tool to be attached to the main shaft, wherein one of themultiple tools stored in the tool magazine can be automaticallyexchanged with the tool attached to the main shaft; this verticalmachining center is otherwise known as a machining center provided withan automatic tool exchange device.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1

JP-A-2005-34933

SUMMARY

With the machining center disclosed in the above patent literature 1,the tool magazine is arranged in a central section of the machine,specifically, between the work table and the control box and under themoving device that moves the main shaft. Therefore, there is a problemin that it is difficult to approach the tool magazine to perform toolexchange or maintenance. The present disclosure takes account of theabove circumstances and an object thereof is to provide a machiningcenter for which tool exchange and maintenance of the tool magazine iseasy to perform.

To solve the above problem the present disclosure of a machining centeris provided with a machine main body, an upper section of which supportsa head moving device and a head raising and lowering device, isconfigured such that a tool magazine is stored inside the machine mainbody, and has a magazine moving device configured to move the toolmagazine such that, during tool exchange, the tool magazine is advancedto protrude from a side of the machine main body, so that, from themultiple tool holders, the tool holder used for exchange is positionedinside the movement range of the main shaft by the head moving device,and wherein the entire tool magazine is able to be moved beyond themovement range of the tool magazine by the magazine moving device to aposition outside of the machine main body and detached from the machinemain body.

Effects

According to the machining center of the present disclosure, aconfiguration for moving the tool magazine is used such that the entiremagazine body is moved to a position outside the machine main body anddetached from the machine main body, therefore tool exchange andmaintenance of the tool magazine can be performed easily.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a machining system on which isloaded an embodiment of the present disclosure of a machining center,from the front right of the system.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the machining system of FIG. 1viewed from the left front side, in a state in which some of theexternal panels are open.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the machining system of FIG. 1viewed from the left front side, in a state with the external panelsremoved.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a device for transporting work thatis applicable to the system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a work module of FIG. 3 pulled fromthe base in the rearwards direction.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a machining center that is anembodiment of the present disclosure from the front left.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a machining center that is anembodiment of the present invention from the front right.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a tool magazine provided in themachining center shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 shows the tool magazine detached from the machine main body.

FIG. 10 shows an enlarged portion from FIG. 9 around the tool magazine.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of a machining center that is an embodiment ofthe present disclosure are described with reference to the drawings. Itshould be noted that for the present disclosure, as well as the belowembodiment, embodiments with various changes based on the knowledge ofsomeone skilled in the art are possible.

Configuration of machining system on which present disclosure of amachining center is loaded

First, before describing a machining system on which is loaded amachining center that is an embodiment of the present disclosure, arelated machining system is described (this is also sometimes referredto as a “related system”). The related system, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3,is configured from items including base 10, and four work modules (alsoreferred to as “modules”) 12 arranged on base 10. FIG. 1 shows a systemwith the external panels attached, FIG. 2 shows the system with some ofthe external panels open, and FIG. 3 shows the system with the externalpanels removed. Note that, in the following descriptions, the side atwhich operation panel 14 is provided is referred to as the front side,and the “front and rear”, “left and right”, and “up and down” sides ofthe system are respectively the front and rear, left and right, and upand down when looking at the system from the front side. That is, theleft and right direction in which the four modules 12 are arranged isthe arrangement direction, and the front and rear direction is theintersecting direction, which is the direction perpendicular to(intersecting) the arrangement direction.

Each of the four work modules shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is a lathe module,which is a modularized lathe, that performs cutting processing on workW4 (refer to FIG. 3) positioned at a work position using bite 20 held onhead 18 by work W4 being rotated by spindle 16. With this relatedsystem, the work is transferred between each module 12 by worktransporting device 22. At each module 12, work transported by worktransport device 22 is attached to a chuck, which is a holding toolattached to the tip of spindle 16 by work moving device 24. Also, workfor which processing by module 12 is complete is transferred from thechuck to work transporting device 22 by work moving device 24, and istransported to the next module 12 by work transporting device 22.

Also, in the related system, instead of the above work transportingdevice 22 and work moving device 24, it is possible to use a worktransporting attachment and detachment device 26 that is capable ofperforming both sets of work. This work transporting attachment anddetachment device 26, as shown in FIG. 4, is movable in the arrangementdirection along pair of rails 28 attached to the front surface of base10, such that work is able to be transported along multiple modules 12.Also, work transporting attachment and detachment device 26 includesarticulated arm 30, and chuck 32 provided at the leading end of arm 30as a holding tool for holding work. That is, work transportingattachment and detachment device 26 extends arm 30 to the processingposition of module 12, receives work from the processing position andattaches work at the processing position using chuck 32.

Note that, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the work and some configuration elementsare omitted or show schematically. W1 of FIGS. 2 and W4 of FIG. 3schematically represent work positioned at a set work position, W2 ofFIG. 2 schematically represents work transferred across modules 12 bythe transporting device, and W3 schematically represents the occupiedspace range of work while being moved to the work position inside eachmodule 12.

As understood from FIGS. 1 to 3, the four modules 12 have substantiallythe same shape, dimension, and structure and are closely arranged at aset arrangement pitch in the arrangement direction. The gap between eachmodule 12 is 50 mm or less, and in actuality the four modules 12 arearranged with practically no gap between them. Each of the modules 12has a general shape of a rectangular parallelepiped and the dimension inthe right-left direction (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as “modulewidth”) is significantly smaller than the dimension in the front-reardirection (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as “module length”). Also,base 10 has substantially the same left-right dimension as the overallleft-right dimension of four modules when the four modules are loaded onthe base. That is, base 10 is just large enough in the left-rightdirection for four modules 12 to be loaded.

Base 10 is configured from items including two base units 34 lined andaffixed to each other. As shown in FIG. 5, two modules 12 are able to beloaded on each base unit 34. Each of the two base units 34 isstandardized and both base units have the same shape, dimension, andstructure.

As shown in FIG. 5, a quantity of rail pairs 36 corresponding to thequantity of modules 12 mounted on each base unit 34, that is,specifically, two rail pairs 36, are provided parallel to thearrangement direction. One rail pair 36 has a pair of rails 38 laid outat an interval extending in the intersecting direction (front-reardirection). Rails 38 mark the path along which module 12 moves whenmodule 12 is pulled out. In the respective modules 12, a pair of wheels40 at each of the front and rear, that is, two pairs of wheels 40, arerotatably held in bed 42. Module 12 is easily pulled out from base unit34 in both directions, that is, in the frontwards direction or therearwards direction, by the two pairs of wheels 40 rotating on the pairof rails 38. Note that, in FIG. 2 the module 12 further to the right ispulled forward in the intersecting direction, and in FIG. 3 the secondmodule 12 from the right is pulled forward in the intersectingdirection.

Further, modules 12 are able to be pulled all the way off base unit 34.Pulling out of modules 12 is shown in FIG. 5, which shows a module beingpulled out from the rearwards direction using trolley 44. Trolley 44includes pair of rails 46 with the same cross section and gap betweenthem as pair of rails 36 provided on base unit 34; the pair of rails 46are set against base 10 so as to extend the pair of rails 38. In thatstate, a portion or all of module 12 is able to be moved onto trolley44.

Configuration of machining system on which present embodiment of amachining center is loaded

As described above, with the above related system, each lathe module 12is able to be removed from and loaded on base 10, such that exchangewith another work module is possible, such as different work module 50shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Work module 50 is a modularized verticalmachining center, and as described later in detail, performs cuttingprocessing on work W5 fixedly held on a work table using a drill orendmill. In the descriptions below, work module 50 is sometimes referredto as drilling mill module 50. Note that, drilling mill module 50 is amachining center that is an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Drilling mill module 50 as a processing module uses the same bed 42 asthe above lathe module 12, and has the same module width. That is,similar to lathe module 12, drilling mill module 50 has a module widthsignificantly smaller than the dimension in the front-rear direction.Described below in detail is the configuration of drilling mill module50 with a small module width as above, and the configuration of themachining system that includes the drilling mill module 50.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, drilling mill module 50 is provided with bed42 that rotatably holds multiple wheels 40, module main body 52 that isset on bed 42 and that performs processing work, and control box 54 thatcontrols module main body 52. Module main body 52 is provided withmodule main body 60 fixed on bed 42, main shaft head 62 the lower end ofwhich holds a tool, head raising and lowering device 64 that moves mainshaft head 62 in a vertical direction, head moving device 66 that movesmain shaft head 62 in a horizontal plane by moving it in twoperpendicular directions, and work table 68 that holds work W5.

An upper section of machine main body 60 supports head moving device 66and head raising and lowering device 64. First slider 70 is supported onthe upper section of machine main body 60 so as to be slidable in thefront-rear directions using pair of guide rails 72 provided on firstslider 70 and multiple bearings 74 provided on machine main body 60.First slider 70 is moved in the front and rear directions by a front andrear moving mechanism that includes a front and rear motor 76, a ballscrew, and the like. Also, as a head holding body that holds main shafthead 62, second slider 80 is supported on first slider 70 so as to beslidable in left and right directions along pair of guide rails 82provided on a front surface of first slider 70. Second slider 80 ismoved in left and right directions by a left and right moving mechanismthat includes a left and right motor 84, ball screw mechanism 86, andthe like. That is, head moving device 66 is configured from itemsincluding first slider 70, pair of guide rails 72, bearings 74, aforwards and backwards moving mechanism, second slider 80, pair of guiderails 82, and a left and right moving mechanism.

Main shaft head 62 is supported on second slider 80 so as to be slidablein up and down directions by pair of guide rails 90 provided on mainshaft head 62 and multiple bearings provided on second slider 80. Notethat, raising and lowering device 64 has main configuration elementssuch as head raising and lowering motor 94 and a ball screw mechanism,and main shaft head 62 is moved in a vertical direction by head raisingand lowering device 64.

Main shaft head 62 is supported at a position further forward than thefront surface of machine main body 60 by a configuration of the abovehead moving device 66 and head raising and lowering device 64. Mainshaft head 62 includes a main shaft rotating device configured from amain body of main shaft 100 that extends vertically and the lower end ofwhich holds a tool such as a drill or endmill, and main shaft rotatingmotor 102 that rotates main shaft 100 about its own axis.

Work table 68 is supported in a state extending from the front surfaceto the rear surface of machine main body 60. Module main body 52 isprovided with table rotating device 106 that rotates work table 68around an axis line that extends in the front-rear direction, and iscapable of performing processing using a tool on work W5 held at anangle. Note that, the table rotating device may rotate the work tableabout an axis extending in a direction other than the front-reardirection, such as a left-right direction, or a direction between thefront-rear direction and left-right direction wherein rotation occursaround an axis line that extends in a horizontal direction. In otherwords, the table rotating mechanism may perform rotation around avertical axis, or around both a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.

Note that, in the machining system, work is moved from an adjacentmodule to work table 68 by work transporting attachment and detachmentdevice 26 that includes the articulated arm 30 shown in FIG. 4, and workfor which processing by drilling mill module 50 is complete is movedfrom work table 68 to the next module.

Drilling mill module 50, when performing cutting processing on work,performs cutting processing while applying coolant to the work. Also,shavings are generated during the cutting processing. The presentmachining system is configured to take account of this coolant andshavings. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, coolant tank 110 thatstores coolant is built into base unit 34. And, entrance 112 for coolantand shavings to enter coolant tank 110 is provided on an upper surfaceof the front side of base unit 34 so as to be positioned below worktable 68 provided in a forwards direction of module main body 60. Whilstomitting detailed descriptions, coolant tank 110 is provided with aninternal screw conveyor such that coolant and shavings are separated andonly the shavings are fed to the rear side of coolant tank 110. Coolanttank 110 protrudes from the rear side of base unit 34, and dischargeduct 114 of the screw conveyor is provided on that protruding rear endsection. That is, shavings that are generated at the position to thefront side of module 50 are fed to the rear side by the screw conveyorprovided inside coolant tank 110, past discharge duct 114, anddischarged from the rear of this system. Note that, the shavingsdischarge device that discharges shavings received by base 10 from therear of base 10 includes items such as coolant tank 110 and the screwconveyor.

Also, drilling mill module 50 includes tool magazine 120 that storesmultiple tools that attach to main shaft 100, and one of the multipletools stored in tool magazine 120 is configured to be automaticallyexchangeable with a tool attached to main shaft 100. Tool magazine 120is stored inside machine main body 60, and as shown in FIG. 7, duringtool exchange, protrudes from the opening provided on the front surfaceof machine main body 60. Note that, as shown in FIG. 6, duringprocessing work by drilling mill module 50, that opening is covered bycover 124, such that coolant and shavings and the like are preventedfrom entering inside machine main body 60 and getting on items such astools stored in tool magazine 120.

As shown in FIG. 8, tool magazine 120 includes multiple tool holders(hereinafter, also sometimes referred to simply as “holders”) 130 thateach hold a tool in an orientation extending in the vertical direction.That is, tool magazine 120 houses multiple tools such that the axislines of each are parallel. Note that, as shown in FIG. 8(a), usually,one or more holders 130 does not hold a tool, such that a holder isempty for receiving a tool attached to main shaft 100. T in FIG. 8schematically represents the empty storage range for tools held in eachholder 130.

The above multiple tool holders 130 are arranged on an elongated ovalthat is long in the front-rear direction (intersecting direction).Specifically, tool magazine 120 includes roller chain 134 provided ontwo sprockets 132, and by the multiple tool holders 130 being fixed toroller chain 134, each of the multiple roller chains 134 is arrangedalong the elongated oval that is long in the intersecting direction.That is, tool magazine 120 has a small dimension in the left-rightdirection (arrangement direction) because the multiple tool holders arearranged along an elongated oval.

Tool magazine 120 includes a sprocket drive motor for rotating sprockets132 forwards (the right side in the figures), and reduction device 138that transmits the rotation of the sprocket rotating motor to sprocket132. Tool magazine 120, by rotating sprockets 132 using the sprocketrotating motor, is able to rotate roller chain 134 such that themultiple tool holders 130 are circulated. That is, the tool holdercirculating mechanism is configured from items including the twosprockets 132, roller chain 134, a sprocket rotating motor, andreduction device 138.

Also, tool magazine 120 is able to move in the front and rear directionsdue to pair of guide rails 150 fixed inside machine main body 60extending in the front-rear direction, and bearings 152 as an guideengaging section fixed to the guide. Further, drilling mill module 50 isprovided with magazine moving device 153 that moves tool magazine 120 infront and rear directions. Magazine moving device 153 is configured fromitems including a ball screw mechanism, and magazine moving motor 158that rotates ball screw 156 of the ball screw mechanism. The nut of theball screw mechanism is fixed to the bottom surface of tool magazine120, and by rotating ball screw 156 using magazine rotating motor 158fixed to machine main body 60, the entire tool magazine 120 is able tobe moved in the front and rear directions.

Drilling mill module 50 advances tool magazine 120 using magazine movingdevice 153, and the front end of tool magazine 120 protrudes from anopening in machine main body 60. Then, in a state with tool magazinepositioned at the front limit a tool holder 130 used for exchange of themultiple tool holders 130, that is, the tool holder 130 positioned atthe front limit, is positioned within the range in which main shaft 100can be moved by head moving device 66, and tool shaft 100 tool exchangeis performed with respect to the holder 130 positioned at the frontlimit.

To describe tool exchange in more detail: first, tool magazine 120 isadvanced by magazine moving device 153, and main shaft 100 is moved tothe exchange position by head moving device 66. Note that, at toolmagazine 120, before tool exchange, a holder 130 not holding a tool ispositioned at the front limit of tool magazine 120. Holder 130 isconfigured to grasp with two claws, and main shaft 100 is moved to therear, the tool attached to main shaft 100 is engaged by the gap betweenthe two claws of holder 130, and that tool is grasped by the holder 130.Then, main shaft 100 is raised such that the tool is separated from mainshaft 100. Continuing, tool holders 130 are circulated and a tool to beattached to main shaft 100 is positioned at the front limit of toolmagazine 120. Next, main shaft 100 is lowered and the tool is attachedto main shaft 100. Continuing, main shaft 100 is moved forwards, and byretracting tool magazine 120, the tool is released from holder 130, thuscompleting tool exchange.

Because the above drilling mill module 50, as described, uses bed 42similar to that of lathe module 12, in a similar manner to lathe module12, drilling mill module 50 can be pulled out from base 10 along a pathextending in the intersecting direction (front-rear direction). In FIG.9, the drilling mill module 50 on the right is shown pulled outforwards. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, drilling mill module 50 is ableto move the entire tool magazine 120 to a position outside the machinemain body using magazine moving device 153, such that the entire toolmagazine 120 is outside machine main body 60 and detached from machinemain body 60.

In the machining system detachment of tool magazine 120 from machinemain body 60 is performed using temporary loading table 200 shown inFIGS. 9 and 10. Temporary loading table 200 includes pair of extensionrails 202 with the same surface area and gap between them as pair ofrails 150 provided on machine main body 60, and the pair of rails 202are fixed with respect to drilling mill module 50 so as to extend thepair of rails 150. In a state fixed with respect to drilling mill module50, a portion of or the entirety of tool magazine 120 is able to bemoved onto temporary loading table 200.

Note that, when fixing temporary loading table 200 with respect todrilling mill module 50, power lifter 204 is used as a trolley.Temporary loading table 200 is loaded on power lifter 204 such thatextension rails 202 are horizontal, and in a state supporting loadingtable 200, power lifter 204 is moved manually next to the machiningsystem, that is, next to drilling mill module 50. On drilling millmodule 50, first, the engagement with machine main body 60 of toolmagazine 120 is released and the stopper of guide rails 150 is removed.Then, power lifter 204 is moved and the height of temporary loadingtable 200 is adjusted, power lifter 204 is positioned in a state suchthat extension rails 202 of temporary loading table 200 extend guiderails 150, and temporary loading table 200 is fixed to machine main body60. Then, tool magazine 120 is pulled manually from machine main body60, bearings 152 provided on tool magazine 120 as a guide engagingsection are guided by extension rails 202, and tool magazine 120 isloaded on temporary loading table 200. Note that, for the tool magazine120 loaded on temporary loading table 200, in the state shown in FIG. 9,maintenance or tool exchange may be performed, or the fixing oftemporary loading table 200 with respect to machine main body 60 may bereleased and temporary loading table 200 may be moved by power lifter204. For example, by preparing another tool magazine, tool exchange maybe performed in a short time.

With this machining system, even though multiple modules includingdrilling mill module 50 are arranged closely adjacent to each other, itis possible to move tool magazine 120 stored inside machine main body 60to a position outside of machine main body 60 using the configuration ofmagazine moving device 153, meaning that work such as tool exchange attool magazine 120, or maintenance of tool magazine 120 can be performedeasily.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

10: base; 12: work module (lathe module); 26: work transportingattachment and detachment device; 34: base unit; 36: pair of rails; 38:rail; 40: wheel; 42: bed; 44: trolley; 46: rail; 50: drilling millmodule (processing module); 52: machining center; 60: module main body;62: main shaft head; 64: head raising and lowering device; 66: headmoving device; 68: work table; 70: first slider; 76: front and rearmotor; 80: second slider; 84: left and right moving motor; 94: headraising and lowering motor; 100: main shaft; 102: main shaft rotatingmotor; 106: table rotating device; 110: coolant tank; 112: entrance;114: discharge duct; 120: tool magazine; 124: cover; 130: tool holder;132: sprocket; 134: roller chain; 150: guide rail; 152: bearing (guideengaging section); 153: magazine moving device; 156: ball screw; 158:magazine moving motor; 200: temporary loading table; 202: pair ofextension rails; 204: power lifter

The invention claimed is:
 1. A machining center comprising: (A) a mainshaft head including a main shaft on which a tool is attached and alsoincluding a main shaft rotating device that rotates the main shaft; (B)a head raising and lowering device that moves the main shaft head in avertical direction; (C) a head moving device that moves the main shafthead within a movement range and in a horizontal plane by moving it intwo perpendicular directions; (D) a work table that holds a work; and(E) a tool magazine for storing multiple tools and equipped withmultiple tool holders that are each configured to hold a respective toolto be attached to the main shaft, one of the multiple tools stored inthe tool magazine being able to be automatically exchanged with the toolattached to the main shaft; a machine main body, an upper section ofwhich supports the head moving device and the head raising and loweringdevice, the tool magazine being stored inside the machine main body, anda magazine moving device configured to move the tool magazine within amovement range such that, during the tool exchange between the toolmagazine and the main shaft, the tool magazine is advanced by themagazine moving device to protrude from a side of the machine main body,so that the tool holder used for the exchange is positioned, by the headmoving device, inside the head moving device movement range of the mainshaft, and wherein the entire tool magazine is able to be moved to aposition that is beyond the magazine moving device movement range of thetool magazine, at which position the entire tool magazine is outside ofthe machine main body, and is detached from the machine main body. 2.The machining center according to claim 1, wherein the magazine movingdevice includes a guide rail attached to the machine main body, and aguide engaging section that is fixed to the tool magazine and guidedalong the guide rail, and the machining center is configured such that atemporary loading table with an extension rail that extends the guiderail can be fixed to the machining center so as to extend the guiderail, and the tool magazine moved onto the temporary loading table bybeing pulled along the extension rail.
 3. The machining center accordingto claim 2, wherein the temporary loading table is provided next to amovable trolley, the machining center supports the temporary loadingtable, and with the temporary loading table in a supported state, themovable trolley is next to the machining center such that the guide railis extended by the extension rail, allowing the tool magazine to bemoved onto the temporary loading table by being pulled along theextension rail.
 4. The machining center according to claim 1, whereinthe multiple tool holders are arranged along an elongated oval, and thetool magazine includes a tool holder circulating mechanism thatcirculates the multiple tool holders.
 5. The machining center accordingto claim 1, wherein the machining center is one of multiple work modulesin a machining system, which machining system includes a base andmultiple work modules arranged on the base in an arrangement direction.6. The machining center according to claim 5, wherein the multiple workmodules are arranged closely adjacent to each other in the arrangementdirection.